20 Feb 2013

Oz swim coach fights for his job

11:41 am on 20 February 2013

Australian swimming's head coach Leigh Nugent says he'll fight to keep his job despite damning reviews uncovering drug abuse in a "toxic" culture in the sport.

Reviews found Australia's swim campaign at last year's London Olympics unravelled amid a lack of leadership, collapsed morale and animosity between swimmers.

One of two separate reviews released yesterday cited incidents of drunkenness, misuse of prescription drugs, breaching curfews, deceit and bullying, which were not addressed by the team hierarchy.

Claims that some swimmers devised an initiation ritual involving the use of the sleeping drug Stilnox are being further investigated.

The Australian swim team went without an individual gold medal in London for the first time since the 1976 Montreal Olympics.